Marina Mahathir endorses it, Edmund Bon to officiate it, Farish Noor demystifies it – Seksualiti Merdeka 2010: We Are Family! Malaysia’s only sexuality rights festival opens next week , Wednesday, 13 October, 8pm.
The one week of events will see Farish Noor talking lingerie, LoyaBurokker filmmaker Mien.Ly premiering the HerStory films project, LoyarBurokker Ong Jo-Lene collaborating on “Portraits Of The Unspoken” and many more! Straight, bent, zig-zag or simply fabulous, all are welcome to join in the fun and celebrate independence and equality for all!
Seksualiti Merdeka is a much needed frank look at the very core of all us human beings, our sexuality, and the diversity that lies within. We need to accept and then celebrate.
– Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir
Calling all Malaysians to join in a group hug of Love, Acceptance and Compassion!
This year, Malaysia’s only sexuality rights festival, Seksualiti Merdeka, celebrates the spirit of family. Exploring the bonds that bring us together, the festival aims to promote both the family and the community’s role in embracing diversity.
As the nation strives to realise its full democratic potential, with Malaysians becoming more aware of our constitutional rights, let’s not forget about our sexuality rights. It is our right to be responsible for our own bodies, to be free from discrimination, violence and injustice, and to be respected for who we are, regardless of gender, sexuality, age, class, ethnicity or beliefs. Each of us has these rights, as enshrined by the UN International Human Rights Charter, the Yogyakarta Principles, and promoted by many human rights organisations local and international.
Whether we are straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersexed, asexual, or simply fabulous, we are brothers and sisters on this great journey toward independence and equality for all.
Officiated by Edmund Bon, Chairperson of the Constitutional Law Committee at the Malaysian Bar Council.
Speech by Representative of United Nations in Malaysia.
Refreshments sponsored by Albion. Take a sneak-peek on Facebook and RSVP!
Featuring the unveiling of :
SM Art Project
Facilitated byLiew Kung Yu, assisted by Shieko
Artists: Hazri Haili, Jellene, Kal Idris, Ong Jo-lene, Tan Zi Hao
Acclaimed Malaysian artist Liew Kung Yu takes five young Malaysians, whose backgrounds range from artist to scientist, from straight to queer, on a journey of self-discovery and self-expression. After six weeks of workshopping, mind-mapping and connecting with each other – they present two installations, one revealing their fears, hopes, and uncertainties about being who they are, and the other inviting you to do the same.
Portraits of the Unspoken - The words you don't see, are the ones you feel most.
Writer: Alfian Sa’at
Director: David Lim
Cast: Johan Yusof, Lim Tiong Wooi, Sandee Chew, Tung Jit Yang.
Produced by Hari Azizan and Lim Chung Wei.
Written by award-winning Singaporean playwright Alfian Sa’at specially for Seksualiti Merdeka, this play is performed in the style of forum theatre, an interactive format which invites audiences to intervene and say what they would have said in those scenarios.
Synopsis: To his mother, Weiliang is the perfect son: he is acing college and going out with a lovely girl, Jeannie. What she doesn’t know is that her son is actually gay and Jeannie is only pretending to be the girlfriend. Racked by guilt and indecision, he thinks it might be time to come out to his mom. Jeannie is relieved, but Weiliang’s boyfriend, Freddie doesn’t think the mom is ready. Should Weiliang do it? How would his mom react? How SHOULD she react?
This performance is touring local colleges and universities.
Thu, 14 Oct, 8pm
HerStory Malaysia is a women’s arts collective dedicated to expanding spaces for women to express themselves using creative platforms. More info on LoyarBurok soon.
Fri 15, Sat 16, Sun 17 Oct, 8.30pm
This year, Rainbow Massacre presents three crazy and amazing nights of song and comedy that celebrate all the wonderful things that make us proud to be part of the great big rainbow family. Cause we are family! Get up brothers and sisters, and sing!
Admission by donation RM40 (At the door), RM35 (Online pre-show sale)
Sat 16 Oct, 2pm
PT Foundation and Amnesty International Malaysia present two films and a discussion on how we can support LGBT children and their families. Moderated by AI Malaysia executive director Nora Murat and former 3R host Azah Yasmin, the panel consists of Dr Brian Ho (Psychiatrist and Associate Professor at UPM) and Vizla Kumaresan (clinical psychologist).
Sun 17 Oct, 12pm
Modesty has always been relative and subjective in our part of the world, and this lecture will look at how notions of modesty, intimacy and attraction have evolved from the precolonial era to the present. Plus there will be a fashion show with babes in Peranakan corsets at the end!
Sun 17 Oct, 4pm
Through understanding Malaysia’s sexual his/her/story and current diversity, notions about narrow “Asian family values” and the basis for deciding “right” and “wrong” can be exposed to some critical light. Here we can question and (re)discover the sexual terrain of which Malaysians are all a part. Bring your own discoveries and questions to share!
Click here for a complete schedule of events and more information.
All admission is FREE unless otherwise noted
All events take place at (except where indicated otherwise)
The Annexe Gallery
2nd Floor, Central Market Annexe
(Behind Central Market)
Kuala Lumpur
03 2070 1137
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